Check out these interesting and exciting events during March and April. Find out how you can learn more about our environment and what you can do to make Minnesota a more environmentally friendly place.

If you or your organization have events you would like to have listed here, please contact Kim LaBo, klabo@cleanwater.org, 612.627.1513.

Find out about the real costs of nuclear power and what it does to our environment. Our factsheets will give you the information you need about why nuclear power is the wrong energy source for Minnesota.

Why we should uphold the nuclear moratorium (pdf, 997 kb).

The true costs of nuclear power. (pdf, 857 kb).

The continuing problem of nuclear waste. (pdf, 724 kb).

Adding nuclear plants will be bad for our water. (pdf, 635 kb).

You will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader properly installed to view PDF documents. You can get it free from Adobe.

From Minnesota Public Radio

A New York Times series on America's water supply is raising serious concerns about the amount of unregulated chemicals in the country's drinking water and the EPA's outdated monitoring system.

Guests

• Jane Houlihan: Vice president for research at the Environmental Working Group.
• Lynn Thorp: National campaign coordinator and senior policy specialist for Clean Water Action.

Minnesotans love their lakes. However, what do you do when the lake you live by is so weedy and smelly that you don’t want to be near it? This was the problem confronting Sherri Knuth and others living near Como Lake in St. Paul, MN. The shallow lake is largely fed by storm water runoff from the neighboring communities. Pollutants in the runoff coupled with a large duck and goose population contributed to the degraded water in the lake. Sherri and her neighbors in the Como area were concerned that if nothing were done to reverse this damage, their neighborhood lake would continue to get worse.

Protecting Ourselves from Pesticides

Ripple Effects Main Page

Pesticides surround us each and every day. They are found in our homes, parks, and schools and are used in growing our food. Mounting evidence shows many pesticides are endocrine disruptors causing reproductive disorders, neurological impairments and immune dysfunction. Learn how pesticide use is impacting Minnesota and how people are working to reduce their exposure and develop awareness in their communities.

To read the full stories and watch the videos, click on the links below.

Polluted Waters – Challenges Abound

Ripple Effects Main Page

Global Climate Change – Everyone is Part of the Solution

Ripple Effects Main Page

The threat of global climate change is one that will affect us all unless it can be stopped.

Recent studies have shown Minnesota could suffer more than most states if climate change is not reversed. Changes in temperature and precipitation will impact our farmers, our wildlife and our rivers, lakes, and streams. A problem of this magnitude means everyone needs to do their part. Learn how your neighbors are making choices to help stop climate change.

To read the full stories and watch the videos, click on the links below.

Britt Carlson

Growing up along the bluffs of the St. Croix River in Stillwater, Britt Carlson developed a strong connection with the river and the environment. Spending her childhood climbing the hills and swimming in the river taught her the importance of preserving our valuable natural resources. Britt feels fortunate to have lived along the St. Croix, as other rivers, such as the Mississippi and Minnesota, are so dirty that swimming and fishing opportunities are limited.

As she grew older, Britt developed a greater understanding of the problems associated with climate change, water quality, and how the solutions are very complex. “In order to solve this problem, it will take more than just policy makers,” says Britt. “Everyone needs to do their part to reach a common goal.”

Even as youngster Becky Sheets loved agriculture and getting her hands in the dirt. She is a master gardener who has a large organic garden and orchard. She combines gardening with her skills as a food preparation consultant to teach young people how to grow and preserve organic food.

Becky was offered a job with a Research Center for Crop Production in 1984. She worked as the research project technician and then coordinator for 25 years. In 1993 she experienced a new world related to agriculture—overspray of pesticides. Becky was sprayed with three pesticides while working and became seriously ill. She had believed that pesticides were safe, since that’s what we have always been told. She was diagnosed with chemically-induced asthma. Becky’s life is forever changed. Now going into hardware stores or grocery stores triggers her asthma attacks. Becky avoids going into stores that have cleaners or pesticides. Driving through town during ‘Weed and Feed’ season has lasting consequences for here health.